henry d Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I have just got back from the game dealer and as I was putting in my buck they were taking a delivery of some hill stags, one of which was 19 1/2 stone dressed out My wee buck was just under 3 stone Now as I have 3 cull beasts to shoot with a 6.5x55(140gn sp) I am feeling a little concerned as these guys looked BIG. It hasn`t helped when the `keeper told me he lost one last year using his .243 as it ran from some clear fell into the wood and away, 12 hrs of searching and nothing So can those of you who have done the deed please offer a crumb of confidence ? Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 sounds like you need a good dog as backup henry, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moses Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I'm sure you wont have any problems HD. I took this stag during the rut last year with my 6.5x55. I shot him quatering away in the top of the shoulder, he did a 360 and kicked up the dirt with his front leg and toppled over dead. Shot placement is everything, the biggest stag I ever saw was shot with a 243. The only thing you may struggle with is getting it back to the larder! ATB Moses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted October 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 sounds like you need a good dog as backup henry, Strangely enough the first roe I shot ran 100yds+ before falling and I used my old spaniel, she was a lot younger then, to find it. I don`t know how my youngster would fare in thick woods here it would be hard to see her more than 5 yds away. I'm sure you wont have any problems HD. I took this stag during the rut last year with my 6.5x55. I shot him quatering away in the top of the shoulder, he did a 360 and kicked up the dirt with his front leg and toppled over dead. Shot placement is everything, the biggest stag I ever saw was shot with a 243. The only thing you may struggle with is getting it back to the larder! ATB Moses Cheers Moses, I feel a bit better now. I don`t think shot placement should be a problem as it will be off sticks/bipod/highseat and as for getting it to the larder, I won`t be putting it in the Jimny The `keeper has said to phone him just after the shot so he can get the pick up and one of the foresters to lend a hand getting it back. I shot a fallow buck a while ago and thought he was big but it is hard to remember size when you see large beasts very rarely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I can't speak from personal experience (yet) H, but come the day I am sure I will be as nervous as hell, but as moses has demonstrated they go down if you hit them right. Your biggets worry is getting the thing out! 4 of us 'dragged' 5 hinds off the tip of a near vertical hill last year, I was knackered just getting there, by the time we got back down we were on deaths door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Although I detest those supercilious blighters that keep saying it's shot that counts not the caliber I have to admit they are partly right. Your 6.5 with the bullet in the right place will do all a .308 0r 30.06 will do on big red stags. Since I have swapped to a 6.5 I have not noticed it lacking in any way to my old 30.06 except I enjoy shooting it more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted October 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Many thanks guys, I will be going out soon and feel better equiped, mentally, and so I shall endevour to put the shot where it counts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 we look forward to the pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted October 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 we look forward to the pictures Don`t pressurise me Laters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I shall endevour to put the shot where it counts. In the ear 'ole works H [allegedly] but no use if you want the trophy of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 (edited) Just take your time Henry and concentrate on placing the shot . If you hit him he will go down ,no deer can survive a hit from a centre fire cartridge they will all die eventually . But you want him to die instantly ,it does make it all that more easier especially towards sunset . Dont worry you have enough gun just make sure you hit him in right place ,if you feel buck fever coming on just take a deep breath and concentrate . Good luck . Harnser . PS You could always borrow my .308 . PPS , Nineteen and a half stone are babies were I come from . Edited October 7, 2009 by Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Just take your time Henry and concentrate on placing the shot . If you hit him he will go down ,no deer can survive a hit from a centre fire cartridge they will all die eventually . But you want him to die instantly ,it does make it all that more easier especially towards sunset . Dont worry you have enough gun just make sure you hit him in right place ,if you feel buck fever coming on just take a deep breath and concentrate . Good luck .Harnser . PS You could always borrow my .308 . PPS , Nineteen and a half stone are babies were I come from . harnser, i was talking to the keeper where i stalked the week before last and he and his under keeper told me that they shot a stag last autumn that weighed 260kg thats 40 stone, that was with the guts in and legs and head on, it was heart shot at 120yds with a .243 and dropped dead onto its shadow, mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 As has been posted placement of shot is everything................but the bigger and more damaging the bullet the faster the reaction to shot.All deer /game will die if the shot is placed correctly, however how fast this happens is about ballistic effect. I have now for instance, as of last week decided to shoot no more large wild boar with the .308, as it is not dropping them/giving me enough instant blood trail to them.I will now only cross this beast with a 9.3 round. Its all horses for courses, the swedish is a great round, and used correctly at sensible range should do the job if the shot is true.The problem is if the shot is not as true as the shooter would have wished then the wound channle and the ammount of sign are less. If you are shooting open hills no problem, however if it is woodland or near woods, then be sure with the shot or think hard. Scott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 (edited) Mikee , We talked about the size of the lowland stags that are found in Norfolk and they can be enormous beasts and do need to be addressed properly . I told you the tale of the big stag that I shot which went just under 400 pounds on the potatoe scales and the need for a tractor to get it out of the woods . Well , I saw two monster stags yesterday and both came out of that small plantation that I Theyshowed to you . Both these stags were bigger than the big one that I shot . They both saunterd off across the rape field and went into the big wood .I watched them for about 15 minutes and they were magnifcent beasts . Remember ,if you shoot one ,you have got to get it out .A roe sack is no good . We also talked about calibre and you know my preferance for the .308 or the .270 for these big beasts ,the bigger calibres will give you more confidence for the shot when you do confront one of these big boys . Harnser . Edited October 7, 2009 by Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Sutton Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 That stag needed flattening moses :blink: The 6.5x55 is just the job for Big stags and big Bucks as well as doing a workman like job on foxes.. The 243 is a superb Fox round and that's about it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moses Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 That stag needed flattening moses :blink: The 6.5x55 is just the job for Big stags and big Bucks as well as doing a workman like job on foxes.. The 243 is a superb Fox round and that's about it.. Here's the flattened stag CS; ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I have just got back from the game dealer and as I was putting in my buck they were taking a delivery of some hill stags, one of which was 19 1/2 stone dressed out :blink: My wee buck was just under 3 stone Now as I have 3 cull beasts to shoot with a 6.5x55(140gn sp) I am feeling a little concerned as these guys looked BIG. It hasn`t helped when the `keeper told me he lost one last year using his .243 as it ran from some clear fell into the wood and away, 12 hrs of searching and nothing So can those of you who have done the deed please offer a crumb of confidence ? Many thanks Where was his dog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I have shot two red stags in recent months on forestry ground in central Scotland. Shot them both with my .243, one a heart shot the other a neck shot, both at around 90 metres. The problem is all about carcasse extractions, all well and good if you can get a tractor, 4x4 or quad in to drag them out, but where I shot both mine it was a case of dragging them out by hand for a considerable distance. They are heavy, very very heavy, and the ground is a nightmare, a mixture of tree stumps, rocks, gullies, holes and pits hidden by a covering of brash and rank grass. So bad in fact that in future one of the main thoughts in my mind before I squeeze the trigger will be how will I get this animal out? Shooting them is the easy bit..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 HD Dead is dead with any well placed bullet and any beast may run on no matter what calibre he's been shot with. If you usually shoot in thick cover you should think about a deer finder dog. GWP's are good, so I hear. BTB it took 7 of us big men to drag a 130kg (dressed) stag off the marshes last week. Easy to find but damn difficult to get at without going for a swim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 there was a group trying to set up a register of deer dogs with owners willing to come out and look for lost deer. Might be worth looking into though second the GWP thought but don't discount others, a keeper I knew used a border terrier because it tended to sound when it got on the trail and was certainly not quiet when it found the deer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAULT Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 im beginning to think my 243 is not enough rifle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 im beginning to think my 243 is not enough rifle Don`t worry with hinds, it will do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 I saw a GWP the other day when I was out with the lads from the shop................this thing was friggin massive.............. Think it should be part of any "serious" stalkers tool kit, a dog.........we have them to do ducks etc etc, finding a deer is hard enough when you see it moving......when its dropped is another matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAULT Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Don`t worry with hinds, it will do the job. but what about stags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Biggest stag? spotted in Suffolk sorry Devon http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/8298284.stm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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